In 1537 the Church of England mandated that parishes begin keeping church registers by the next year (1538). These church registers continue to the present. Bishops’ transcripts, or copies of parish registers, were required beginning in 1598 and continued to the mid-1800s. The vast majority of the English population belonged to the Church of England. Only since the mid-19th century have other religious groups made headway.

In 1537 the Church of England mandated that parishes begin keeping church registers by the next year (1538). These church registers continue to the present. Bishops’ transcripts, or copies of parish registers, were required beginning in 1598 and continued to the mid-1800s. The vast majority of the English population belonged to the Church of England. Only since the mid-19th century have other religious groups made headway.

−

=== Record Content ===

+

=== Coverage Table ===

+

+

Coverage tables are available for this collection. Due to number of parishes included, the coverage information is presented in wiki articles according to the first letter of the name of the parish included. See

*May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage.

*May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage.

−

*After 1754, the full names of witnesses&nbsp;

+

*After 1754, the full names of witnesses&nbsp;

*After 1837, the full names of the fathers

*After 1837, the full names of the fathers

*May note if a spouse is single or widowed at the time of the marriage.

*May note if a spouse is single or widowed at the time of the marriage.

Line 57:

Line 86:

*If the deceased is a child, might give the father’s name

*If the deceased is a child, might give the father’s name

*If the deceased is a married woman, might give the husband’s name

*If the deceased is a married woman, might give the husband’s name

−

*Age of the deceased

+

*Age of the deceased

*Residence of the deceased

*Residence of the deceased

*May give the sex of the deceased

*May give the sex of the deceased

Line 66:

Line 95:

Parish registers are one of the best sources for identifying individuals and connecting them to parents, spouses, and other generations. In July 1837, the government instituted the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths. However, parish registers continue to play an important role because they are often more readily available than civil registers. Bishops’ transcripts are a backup source for parish registers that are missing or illegible. If possible, you may want to search both the parish registers and the bishops’ transcripts since one is a handwritten copy of the other and might contain differences.

Parish registers are one of the best sources for identifying individuals and connecting them to parents, spouses, and other generations. In July 1837, the government instituted the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths. However, parish registers continue to play an important role because they are often more readily available than civil registers. Bishops’ transcripts are a backup source for parish registers that are missing or illegible. If possible, you may want to search both the parish registers and the bishops’ transcripts since one is a handwritten copy of the other and might contain differences.

−

Baptism or christening records list the parents’ names, making it possible for you to connect your ancestor to an earlier generation. You may find a birth date listed or be able to approximate a birth date.

+

Baptism or christening records list the parents’ names, making it possible for you to connect your ancestor to an earlier generation. You may find a birth date listed or be able to approximate a birth date.

−

The following are several ways you can use these records:

+

The following are several ways you can use these records:

*After 1812 the baptismal records list a place of residence, making it easier to identify your family by where they lived.

*After 1812 the baptismal records list a place of residence, making it easier to identify your family by where they lived.

Line 80:

Line 109:

*The occupation of a deceased male might be given (especially after 1812) and can help identify your ancestor when there is more than one person by that name in the area.

*The occupation of a deceased male might be given (especially after 1812) and can help identify your ancestor when there is more than one person by that name in the area.

*Knowing&nbsp;your ancestor's&nbsp;occupation might also provide you the opportunity to find other records about your ancestor.

*Knowing&nbsp;your ancestor's&nbsp;occupation might also provide you the opportunity to find other records about your ancestor.

−

*Banns indicate the parish of residence of the bride and groom and often lead to the records of another parish.

+

*Banns indicate the parish of residence of the bride and groom and often lead to the records of another parish.

*You can search for the baptisms of the bride and groom in the parishes of residence since these might also be the parishes where they were born.

*You can search for the baptisms of the bride and groom in the parishes of residence since these might also be the parishes where they were born.

Line 88:

Line 117:

*When the person lived (If you do not know the time period, you must estimate it from what you know of more recent generations.)

*When the person lived (If you do not know the time period, you must estimate it from what you know of more recent generations.)

−

&nbsp;A useful means of locating parishes prior to 1851 is [[England Jurisdictions 1851]] available at [[maps.familysearch.org|maps.familysearch.org]]&nbsp;&nbsp;

+

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:

+

+

*There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.

+

*You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.

+

*Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

+

+

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at [http://broadcast.lds.org/familysearch/2011-12-03-familysearch-search-tips-1000k-eng.mp4 FamilySearch Search Tips].

Parish registers were created to record church events of baptism or christening, marriage, and burial. Baptismal entries usually list the person’s birth date, and burial entries list the death date. In the Church of England, baptism, which was also called christening, was performed soon after the birth of a child. Marriage in the church legally united a man and a woman for civil legal reasons and for the purpose of founding a religiously sanctified family. Burial is a function of the church to inter the deceased soon after death.<br>

+

Parish registers were created to record church events of baptism or christening, marriage, and burial. Baptismal entries usually list the person’s birth date, and burial entries list the death date. In the Church of England, baptism, which was also called christening, was performed soon after the birth of a child. Marriage in the church legally united a man and a woman for civil legal reasons and for the purpose of founding a religiously sanctified family. Burial is a function of the church to inter the deceased soon after death.<br>

=== Record Reliability ===

=== Record Reliability ===

Line 166:

Line 203:

Additional Church development in Worthing and other&nbsp;parishes in the town&nbsp;is explained in [[Worthing, Sussex]].

Additional Church development in Worthing and other&nbsp;parishes in the town&nbsp;is explained in [[Worthing, Sussex]].

−

The 207 parishes of East Sussex and 223 parishes of West Sussex included in the Online Parish Clerks database for Sussex are being included in the FamilySearch Research wiki pages. For further information about Sussex Online Parish Clerks (OPC) visit [http://www.sussex-opc.org/index.php?no=1+ Sussex Online Parish Clerks(OPC)] which is&nbsp; free online database volunteer effort to transcribe not only parish register material but all types of records for the two counties.<br>

+

The 207 parishes of East Sussex and 223 parishes of West Sussex included in the Online Parish Clerks database for Sussex are being included in the FamilySearch Research wiki pages. For further information about Sussex Online Parish Clerks (OPC) visit [http://www.sussex-opc.org/index.php?no=1+ Sussex Online Parish Clerks(OPC)] which is&nbsp; free online database volunteer effort to transcribe not only parish register material but all types of records for the two counties.<br>

−

The Family Search Research Wiki pages also contain references to the existing volunteer effort in East and West Sussex by local Wikipedia contributors over the last decade to provide details of places of worship in both counties which may assist research. These include demolished or disused places of worship and reflect the diverse use of worship buildings to the present day.

+

The Family Search Research Wiki pages also contain references to the existing volunteer effort in East and West Sussex by local Wikipedia contributors over the last decade to provide details of places of worship in both counties which may assist research. These include demolished or disused places of worship and reflect the diverse use of worship buildings to the present day.

When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

−

A suggested format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: [[How to Cite FamilySearch Collections|How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]]

+

A suggested format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: [[How to Cite FamilySearch Collections|How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]]

+

+

=== Citation for This Collection ===

+

+

The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Collection Time Period

This collection covers records for the years from 1530 until 1900.

Record Description

These parish registers were acquired from the East and West Sussex Record Offices under multiple projects. The source list contains a total of (263) unique rolls of microfilm - (231) of these rolls of microfilm have never been indexed. The remaining rolls have only partial indexes and should be re-indexed as a part of this project. The contract with the East and West Record Offices limit the publication of images. Because of these restrictions, we are moving this forward as "Publish Index" only project.

Baptisms (christenings), marriages, and burials were recorded on blank pages in a bound book called a register. The events of baptism, marriage, and burial were all recorded in one volume until 1754, when a law required that marriages be recorded in a separate book. Banns, or proclamations of “an intent” to marry, were recorded in yet another book. Starting in 1812, preprinted registers were introduced and separate registers were kept for baptisms, marriages, and burials. Before 1812, bishops’ transcripts were usually recorded on loose pieces of paper. Following that year, the transcripts were recorded on the same preprinted forms as parish registers.

In 1537 the Church of England mandated that parishes begin keeping church registers by the next year (1538). These church registers continue to the present. Bishops’ transcripts, or copies of parish registers, were required beginning in 1598 and continued to the mid-1800s. The vast majority of the English population belonged to the Church of England. Only since the mid-19th century have other religious groups made headway.

Coverage Table

Coverage tables are available for this collection. Due to number of parishes included, the coverage information is presented in wiki articles according to the first letter of the name of the parish included. See

May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage.

After 1754, the full names of witnesses

After 1837, the full names of the fathers

May note if a spouse is single or widowed at the time of the marriage.

Church of England parish register burial records usually contain:

Burial date

Name of the deceased.

If the deceased is a child, might give the father’s name

If the deceased is a married woman, might give the husband’s name

Age of the deceased

Residence of the deceased

May give the sex of the deceased

Residence of the deceased

How to Use the Record

Parish registers are one of the best sources for identifying individuals and connecting them to parents, spouses, and other generations. In July 1837, the government instituted the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths. However, parish registers continue to play an important role because they are often more readily available than civil registers. Bishops’ transcripts are a backup source for parish registers that are missing or illegible. If possible, you may want to search both the parish registers and the bishops’ transcripts since one is a handwritten copy of the other and might contain differences.

Baptism or christening records list the parents’ names, making it possible for you to connect your ancestor to an earlier generation. You may find a birth date listed or be able to approximate a birth date.

The following are several ways you can use these records:

After 1812 the baptismal records list a place of residence, making it easier to identify your family by where they lived.

Use the father’s occupation to identify your ancestor's family when more than one family with the same name lived in the parish.

You can use marriage the residence for the bride and groom to look for their baptisms and to identify the children of this couple.

Sometimes the groom’s occupation is listed, which could help you find more records about the groom.

Marriage records after 1754 list the names of witnesses, who were often family members, and can help you identify your ancestor’s family.

Signatures in the records might be used to identify a particular individual by the handwriting style.

After 1812, and sometimes before, burial records include the age of the deceased, which you can use to approximate the person’s birth year and to find the baptismal record.

If the deceased is a child, the parents’ names might be given, which can help to extend your family another generation.

The occupation of a deceased male might be given (especially after 1812) and can help identify your ancestor when there is more than one person by that name in the area.

Knowing your ancestor's occupation might also provide you the opportunity to find other records about your ancestor.

Banns indicate the parish of residence of the bride and groom and often lead to the records of another parish.

You can search for the baptisms of the bride and groom in the parishes of residence since these might also be the parishes where they were born.

To search for a person in a Church of England parish register, you must know the following:

Where the person lived and the corresponding parish

When the person lived (If you do not know the time period, you must estimate it from what you know of more recent generations.)

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:

There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.

You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.

Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Record History

In 1530, King Henry VIII established the Church in England, also known as the Anglican Church, the State Church, or the Episcopal Church. A law passed in 1537 required ministers to record the baptisms, marriages, and burials that took place in their parishes. Priests recorded these events in registers and kept them at the parish level, which is the lowest level of authority in the Church of England. Within some parishes, chapelries were created to provide for the worship needs of the parishioner when the parish church was not easily accessible. Chapelries sometimes had the authority to perform baptisms, marriages, and burials, so they kept their own registers. Several parishes formed a deanery (presided over by a dean), several deaneries formed an archdeaconry (presided over by an archdeacon), and several archdeaconries formed a diocese (presided over by a bishop).

Beginning in 1598, ministers were required to annually send copies of their registers to an archdeacon or bishop. These copies are referred to as bishops’ transcripts, or sometimes archdeacon transcripts. As a result, two copies of many parish registers exist from 1598 to about the mid-1800s. After civil registration began in 1837, the value of keeping bishops’ transcripts diminished, so by 1870 most parishes had stopped making them.

Banns are proclamations of an intent to marry. After 1754 these banns were required to be read for three consecutive Sundays before a marriage so that anyone with reasons against the marriage could oppose it. Banns were read in both the bride’s parish and the groom’s parish. An alternative was to apply for a license to marry either to the local Diocese or to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Most bishops’ transcripts of Church of England parish registers have been preserved. Many have also been copied to microfilm or microfiche. The condition of the records is relatively good considering their age and their storage conditions over the centuries. In 1598 ministers were required to copy their registers onto parchment. If the minister failed to make such a copy, the register for that parish and its records did not survive. During the Commonwealth period, 1649–1660, many parish registers disappeared, and many transcripts were not kept because ministers were deposed from their parishes.

The Diocese of Chichester Bishop's Transcripts are held at West Sussex Record Office as the Diocesan registry. The Transcripts for West Sussex parishes begin from 1570 onwards whereas those in East Sussex date from 1606; few parishes have a complete series prior to 1641. From approximately 1700 to 1850, the Chichester Diocese has a rather full surviving collection for nearly all parishes in the diocese. In common with other diocese in England incumbents after 1837 did not record marriages due to the introduction of the civil registration marriage return to the local registration district.

As the transcript is contemporary with the parish register entry handwriting problems are present and as any transcript is prone to human error the parish register entry and transcription may not concur on the names or details of the event and some transcripts may have missing years or part thereof if the intended transcription did not take place for part of the year.

Why this Record Was Created

Parish registers were created to record church events of baptism or christening, marriage, and burial. Baptismal entries usually list the person’s birth date, and burial entries list the death date. In the Church of England, baptism, which was also called christening, was performed soon after the birth of a child. Marriage in the church legally united a man and a woman for civil legal reasons and for the purpose of founding a religiously sanctified family. Burial is a function of the church to inter the deceased soon after death.

Record Reliability

Church of England parish registers are the most reliable and accurate family history source until July 1837, when the government instituted the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths. Information in parish registers and Bishop's Transcripts can be verified against each other. There are often variations in Bishop's Transcripts of names and spellings. Bishop's Transcripts may also omit years or part of years and are incomplete according to Diocesan practice and preservation.

Transcription is a human process and can include error. If you are searching a computer data base which has been indexed exactly as viewed it may be necessary to search on variants of the given name and surname. The transcriber may have faithfully rendered Thos. or a Latin spelling like Xpher and your search for Thomas or Christopher may not produce a search result.

Parish register entries may not correspond with post 1837 Civil Registration certificates. The registration of Marriages involves a quarterly return from each authorized person (Registrar General approved) to the local Registry Office and each Registry Office in turn to form a National Index. The transcription of information from the event may not correspond to the original entry.

Since Civil Birth registrations are only partial in the early decades of Civil registration parish registers may be the only source of record for infant birth and death in a period of high infant mortality rates.

Parish Coverage

Parishes intended to be indexed in both East and West Sussex are included in the following pages

Additional Church development in Worthing and other parishes in the town is explained in Worthing, Sussex.

The 207 parishes of East Sussex and 223 parishes of West Sussex included in the Online Parish Clerks database for Sussex are being included in the FamilySearch Research wiki pages. For further information about Sussex Online Parish Clerks (OPC) visit Sussex Online Parish Clerks(OPC) which is free online database volunteer effort to transcribe not only parish register material but all types of records for the two counties.

The Family Search Research Wiki pages also contain references to the existing volunteer effort in East and West Sussex by local Wikipedia contributors over the last decade to provide details of places of worship in both counties which may assist research. These include demolished or disused places of worship and reflect the diverse use of worship buildings to the present day.

Related Websites

Related Wiki Articles

Contributions to This Article

We welcome user additions to FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles. We are looking for additional information that will help readers understand the topic and better use the available records. We also need translations for collection titles and images in articles about records written in languages other than English. For specific needs, please visit WikiProject FamilySearch Records.

Please follow these guidelines as you make changes. Thank you for any contributions you may provide.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections

When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

Citation for This Collection

The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

“England, Sussex, Church of England, Church Records.” Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2013. Citing West Sussex County Record Office, Chichester.

For a list of localities currently published in this collection, see the Coverage Tables section, just above.